Radiator for a centralized heating system

ABSTRACT

A radiator for a centralized heating system includes a plurality of tubular elements ( 1 ) and ( 2 ), reciprocally connected. The radiator is inserted in a hydraulic circuit in which flows a liquid heated by a boiler and circulated in a natural or forced manner. The liquid gives heat to the exterior by means of the lateral surfaces of the tubular elements. The tubular elements ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) are fixed one to the other by means of screw elements ( 3 ) which are provided with hydraulic sealing means whereby the discharge of the liquid from the tubular elements is prevented.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a radiator for a centralized heating system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] It is known that the radiators of this type comprise a plurality of tubular elements which are connected one to the other and which are inserted in a hydraulic circuit in which a liquid flows. This liquid is heated by means of a boiler and is circulated naturally or in the greater part of the cases in a forced manner by means of a suitable circulation pump. This liquid warms the exterior by means of the lateral surface of the tubular elements. These elements are made separately one from the other and are fixed to each other by welding. The radiator is then painted or chromium plated due clearly to reasons of aesthetic point of view.

[0003] In every case, the fact that the elements which compose the radiator must be welded one to the other, causes definite limits to the possibility of making radiators of particular shape.

[0004] In actual practice, it would be desirable both from a functional and aesthetic point of view to make radiators in which the tubular elements are fixed one to the other without using weldings which are difficult to use and not aesthetic. However, this does not turn out to be simple or convenient so that manufacturers have for a long time put on the market radiators which substantially have the same shape apart from small constructive variations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a radiator for central heating plant of the type described hereinabove but which is free of the drawbacks described and capable potentially of having any conformation.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by providing tubular elements which are fixed together by means of screw elements equipped with means for hydraulic sealing. These elements are capable of avoiding the discharge of the liquid which is introduced in the radiator. These sealing elements are placed corresponding to the areas in which the screw elements enter into or emerge from the tubular elements of the radiator and prevent the discharge or leakage of the liquid. In this manner it is possible to achieve types of radiators which would be impossible to obtain or would be very hard to achieve by means of a union one to the other of the tubular elements by means of welding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other characteristics of the invention will be described in detail hereinbelow by reference to particular embodiments provided as non-limiting examples by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0008]FIGS. 1 and 2 show two views of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0009]FIGS. 3 and 4 show two views in cross-section of the first embodiment, according to lines III-III and IV-IV of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment;

[0010]FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the detail V of FIG. 2;

[0011]FIGS. 6 and 7 show two views of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

[0012]FIGS. 8 and 9 show two views in cross-section of the second embodiment, according to lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX of FIG. 7;

[0013]FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of the detail X of FIG. 7;

[0014]FIGS. 11 and 12 show two views of a third embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIGS. 13 and 14 show two views in cross-section of the third embodiment, according to lines XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV of FIG. 11;

[0016]FIG. 15 shows an element used in this third embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIGS. 16 and 17 show two views of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0018]FIGS. 18 and 19 show two views in cross-section according to lines XVIII-XVIII and XIX-XIX of FIG. 16;

[0019]FIGS. 20, 21 and 21BIS show-three views of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0020]FIGS. 22 and 23 show two views in cross-section of the fifth embodiment by reference to the details XXII and XXIII of FIG. 21;

[0021]FIGS. 24 and 25 show respectively one view in the same scale as FIG. 21 and another an enlarged view of a detail present in the apparatus;

[0022]FIG. 26 shows a view in cross-section of a possible current form of the apparatus of the invention;

[0023]FIGS. 27 and 28 show two views of a screw element used in the above apparatus;

[0024]FIG. 29 shows a view of another current form of the apparatus of the invention;

[0025]FIGS. 30 and 31 show two views of an element used in the above apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026]FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the apparatus of the invention consists of a radiator for a centralized heating system which comprises two sets of tubular elements (1) and (2), within which flows a heated liquid coming from a boiler. These sets of tubular elements are disposed reciprocally in a perpendicular manner causing in practice the formation of a grating in which, however, the sides which constitute the links lie on different planes, even when they are parallel and brought close.

[0027] A fundamental characteristic of the apparatus of this invention is constituted by the fact that the reciprocal connection between the tubular elements (1) and (2) is ensured by the screw elements (3) (see FIGS. 26, 27, 28) which have stem (3′). This stem which has a threaded end 3″ is inserted in the interior of tubular elements (1) and end 3″ is inserted in a hole formed in the tubular element (2). The screw passes through washer (4), placed between the two tubular elements (1) and (2).

[0028] In both situations, first corresponding to the area of head (3′″) of the screw element placed in contact with tubular element (1) and second corresponding to areas in which the washer (4) is placed in contact with the two tubular elements (1) and (2), there are present hydraulic sealing means preferably constituted by rings (5) of the “O ring” type, which obviously have the function of avoiding the discharge of fluid from the tubular elements.

[0029]FIGS. 29, 30 and 31 show that the screw element (3) may be constituted by a nut (6) which is provided with two extensions (7). These extensions have a cylindrical shape, are externally threaded and engage in threaded cavities present in tubular elements (1) and (2).

[0030] Returning to FIG. 26, it will be noted that the body (3′) of screw 3 is internally hollow and communicates with the exterior by means of hole 8. Analogously, screw (3) shown in FIGS. 29, 30 and 31, is internally hollow and open at its ends.

[0031] All the features mentioned hereinabove allow an easy downflow of the heated fluid from one tubular element to the other. In particular, FIGS. 20 to 25 show that it is possible to use screw elements which have a total length equal to the length of the entire radiator. In practice, this screw element is intended to go through all the tubular elements of the radiator, longitudinally or transversally. Naturally the screw will be provided with a plurality of reciprocally spaced openings (8), and will be internally hollow so as to allow free circulation of the fluid in the interior of the several elements which constitute the radiator. By studying the attached drawings it will be concluded that the apparatus of this invention allows to achieve a very great variety of constructive shapes of radiators for heating. In particular it is possible to achieve structures with a practically indefinite number of levels of tubular elements, see for instance FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0032] Likewise it is possible to achieve very complex structures as the structures of FIGS. 20 and 21 which would be particularly difficult or absolutely impossible to fabricate with the techniques of known type. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiator for a centralized heating system, which comprises a plurality of tubular elements (1) and (2) connected one to the other, said radiator being inserted in a hydraulic circuit wherein a liquid heated by a boiler is circulated through said hydraulic circuit by natural or forced circulation, said liquid giving heat to the exterior through the lateral surfaces of said tubular elements, said radiator being characterized by the fact that said tubular elements (1) and (2) are reciprocally fixed one to the other by means of screw elements (3), said elements (3) being provided with hydraulic sealing means (5) to prevent the discharge of the liquid from said tubular elements.
 2. The radiator according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said elements (3) are internally hollow whereby free circulation of the liquid between one and the other of the tubular elements (1) and (2) is permitted.
 3. The radiator according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that elements (3) comprise a head (3′″) and a stem (3′), said stem runs through at least one tubular element and fixes itself on another tubular element which is adjacent or non-adjacent to said first tubular element.
 4. The radiator according to claim 3 characterized by the fact that between at least one tubular element (1) and the adjacent tubular element (2) is interposed a washer (4), which has a central hole, and said element (3) passes through said hole.
 5. The radiator according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the stem (3′) of at least one element (3) has a length equal to the radiator along the entire extension longitudinally or transversely.
 6. The radiator according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said element (3) comprises a central nut (6), from which extends two extensions (7) which are externally threaded and engaged in a threaded cavity in said tubular elements (1) and (2). 